I am newly adjusting to my address in Houston. …and I have a $6 must purchase for you.

Hard Candy’s Ombre Lipstick is found at Walmart and they have taken the guesswork out of polishing your look and adding fullness to your pout.

From Hard Candy’s website, “Two complementary shades in one lipstick now makes it easier than ever to add definition and fullness to lips.”

I purchased my shade in Practical. I just finished some Yoga, but I had to do a before/after just using this lipstick to show you the affect it has:

Ok, so this is literally JUST adding the lipstick. Not only do my lips look fuller and more alive, but my whole face looks brightened and more tan, right?! Took 2 seconds. You can swipe this little nugget on out the door to run errands or go out on a date – no matter what, you’ll look super put together. Gives the definition of a lip pencil without the harshness!

Go to your local Walmart and pick this bad boy up… they have 10 different colors! Let me know if you’ve tried any and how you like them :)

Click to read more about why I think this stuff is the bee’s knees…

I bought this deodorant on my last trip to Philly back in March after perusing the Target deodorant aisle for ohh…. 30 minutes. THERE’S SO MANY DEODORANT OPTIONS NOW … WHAT IS THAT ABOUT!? Anyway, I typically use Dove’s Cucumber deodorant during the fall/winter because it’s gentle, mild and does the job. In the spring/summer, I always switch to a clinical strength brand (I don’t discriminate between Dove, Secret or Degree… usually whatever’s cheapest). I won’t lie, I will say that Secret’s clinical line tends to give me the BEST sweat/scent protection, but this Dove clinical protection with cleartone gives it a run for its money.

I purchased the Dove deodorant because the cleartone intrigued me… plus, I think it was like .20 cents cheaper than Secret at the time. I’ve seen several deodorants advertise that they get rid of the darkness under the armpits, and I don’t usually believe that.

QUICK TIP: Honestly, if you use a face wash with salicylic acid (when I remember, I use my Neutrogena grapefruit face scrub in the shower) and exfoliate your under arms 2-3 times a week, it definitely helps the darkness (but who has time for that?).

If this deodorant can keep me dry/not stinky in the spring/summer AND lighten the darkness, then let’s try it.

I was SHOCKED to say that after one month of using this deodorant daily in the evenings, my underarms are significantly lighter. In fact, they actually match the skin around that area… as in, you can barely see the hair follicle that makes your underarms appear darker! I don’t know HOW IT DOES IT… but it’s working! I haven’t exfoliated at all since using this product and I’m really amazed at the results… just in time for all those sleeveless tops and dresses :)

Admittedly, the scent protection isn’t as great as Secret’s… but don’t get me wrong… I’m not walking around smelling like a wet dog. It works, haha… I just find that Secret’s works better for me (which is strange because the active ingredient is identical). Maybe it has something to do with the fact that Dove’s line has the 1/4th moisturizer… who knows. I think the lightness negates the fact that the scent protection isn’t as good…. especially for this time of the year :)

You can get the Dove with cleartone for under $8 at Target or Walmart.

Have you tried this deodorant? What do you think?

Blueprint juices, sold at Whole Foods

Ok so after Christmas but before New Year’s Eve, I felt gross.  It’s not that I really ate gluttonous, because I really can’t anymore due to my gluten allergy, but I just wasn’t exercising like I typically do, and definitely wasn’t eating right.  I just needed to flush out the crap – literally.  I took to researching cleanses online that fit 2 criteria:

1. Didn’t cost a fortune (read: more than $100… hey, I’m in grad school and paying for a wedding here)

2. Was easily accessible (read: I needed it instantly and didn’t want to wait for shipping)

I went right to Google and typed in: Whole Foods (the home of all things healthy, right?) Cleanse.  The Blueprint juices came up immediately as being available in the store! Score!  The typical Blueprint 3 day cleanse is sold online for about $260 with shipping.  If I can just buy them at Whole Foods and save shipping, I’m already winning.

But I didn’t want to go all out and starve for 3 days.  I never did a cleanse before and I like eating.  I figured I’d try just 24 hours first and see how it goes.  I found all the juices you get in the cleanse at Whole Foods, and for 1 day it came to $54.  WOO! So even if I wanted the whole 3 days, it would still save me $100… ($54 x 3).

DISCLAIMER:  I did this cleanse to pump myself up with fruits and veggies and flush out my system/detox.  My goal was never to lose weight.  If weight was lost, it was just an added side effect.  This also totaled a little over 1,000 calories… which for my height, 5’3″ and current weight, was low, but not so low I would be ill.

Here’s the play by-play of my day on the juices and my final check in the next morning:

First, I did this on a Sunday where I had nothing to do… thus, I was naturally using fewer calories and shouldn’t be as hungry or tired. Also, I ended up waking up 1.5 hours later than I planned, so all of the juices were drunk 1.5 hours after the bottles in the picture denote.

10:30 – kale/apple/ginger/romaine/etc … very green smoothie-like… tasted just like the Evolution juices at Starbucks. Very easy to make at home. I also drank 2 cups of black tea. I usually have 2 cups of black tea in the mornings anyway.

1pm – lime/ginger/lemon/agave… tastes just like a lemonade with a smidge of ginger. Yummy. I was a bit hungry right before I drank this. On a scale of 1-10, I was probably a 5.5 in hungriness. I also had 1 cup chamomile tea to help me stay full.

3pm – cashew/vanilla/etc…  I thought it would be sweet and creamy like a milkshake.  It tastes like cashew water lol.  It has a mild aftertaste of maybe pure coconut water if that makes sense. Not creamy at all. Not as good as I thought it would be… definitely not my favorite, but if it fills me up more since it has the most calories, than that’s good with me! I was a little tempted to eat real food now… but not really hungry when I think about it. Maybe like a 3.5, but it’s definitely just mental; I wanted something to eat in my mouth… but my belly is not growling or anything. I also drank 1 cup of water.

***My Whole Foods didn’t have the beet/apple one that I should have had. I subbed for the other (smaller bottle) kale one***

4:30pm – kale/apple/lemon. The cashew drink took me about an hour to drink because I really hated it, so before I knew it was time for this next drink! I was not hungry yet at all. This one may be rivaling the lime ginger lemon one from 1pm as a favorite. It’s less green-tasting then the morning one, and you can definitely taste the apple so much more. It’s almost like a very tangy apple juice! I am not at all feeling hungry right now and I just have been peeing a lot.  I don’t feel tired or cranky or anything. So this is going well, so far.

5:30 – making dinner for my fiancé sucked lol. I was making these delicious enchilada stuffed peppers and it wasn’t too bad until I added the shredded cheese and I literally was dying. I am not HUNGRY, exactly, but I just wanted to try so bad! I am almost to my next juice at 6pm!!!! I had another cup of water to try to shut up my brain/tummy.

6pm – lemon/cayenne/agave… tastes a lot like the 1p lime ginger lemon agave, but less tart and a mild spicy aftertaste. It’s nothing that makes you need to drink water, but it’s interesting. Definitely tastes a lot more like a traditional lemonade.  I can enjoy this while I watch the delicious enchilada stuffed peppers bubble in the oven… le sigh.

7:30pm – pineapple/apple/mint… I was getting munchy again now. But, as usual, nothing dramatic and no tummy noises. Like a 4.5 out of 10.  I just missed actually eating food more than anything. No headaches or crankiness.  This is probably the best juice… of course b/c it has a LOT of sugar in it haha.  But I am glad I saved it for my last of the day!  It tastes exactly like it says… pineapple, apple, mint.  No other way to cut it.  You taste pineapple mostly, with a bit of tang from the apple and an aftertaste of the mint. It’s good!

Taking a shower and self tanning right after this to keep me busy, then right to bed I’m going to go so I don’t get hungry again. I’ll probably drink 1 cup of chamomile tea because I always do that before bed, anyway. I am totally eating those stuffed peppers tomorrow… maybe even for breakfast haha. But I will weigh myself in the morning and see if this really did anything. I’m not anticipating that it did, but it was good to just flush my system out for 24 hours and imbibe lots of fruits and veggies.

2:30am – woke up with an acid-like feeling in my belly.  I needed to eat something or I was going to throw up.  I ran downstairs and devoured three rice cakes and laid down on the floor. I was not feeling awesome. So much for not eating anything! Whatever, I needed to eat. I felt so much better after the rice cakes. I went back to bed assuming the worst when I would wake up and step on the scale.

Next day, 8am – woke up and weighed myself – lost a full 3 lbs in 24 hours!  Granted, you have to assume this is water weight, but my stomach was flatter and leaner looking and I felt really good.

WOULD I DO IT AGAIN?  Yes, but I would let myself have a piece of toast before bed.
WOULD I DO THE FULL 3 DAYS?  Yes, but I would have to eat something… whether that meant having a salad for dinner each day or having toast/peanut butter before bed… I need to add something solid in my stomach, personally.
WOULD I RECOMMEND IT TO A FRIEND:  Yes, in moderation and with realistic expectations.

Have any questions? Let me know!

With that said, there’s been a few new favorites I’ve been using lately that has truly changed my beauty routine(s).  I highly suggest checking them out for yourself OR gifting someone you love!  Most are under $10… none are over $25.

1. The WET Brush – $7-10

I have longer hair now, since I can’t bring myself to cut it until after my wedding in May.  However, it is extremely coarse and dry and needs a serious cut.  In the meantime, no matter what deep conditioner I use, I can never get a wide tooth comb through this mane without serious pain to my scalp. Can’t be good.  Even if I brush it out in the shower… I look like I’ve lost an old man’s toupee in the drain. Ew.

Enter: The WET Brush.  A hairstylist at a blow-dry bar used this on me a couple of months ago, and it’s life-changing.  It gets through my thicker, coarse hair like nothing else… without hurting me!  Something about the super strong and super thin bristles is what differentiate this paddle brush from the standard one you may have sitting on your dresser. Trust me, it’s different. And worth it.

2. Remington T/Studio Silk Ceramic Styling Wand in 1.5-1″ – $25

Going off the above section regarding hair… my hair is like a horse and doesn’t hold curls well…. unless I use a wand.  Curling irons look pretty for about five minutes, then it falls totally straight on me.

I’ve mastered the beachy-wave look using my NuMe 25MM Wand (Google coupons… you can get this wand for $110 off the $169 price tag), but I wanted those pretty, romantical waves.  There IS a difference.  Basically, the look you get when you use a 1.5-2″ curling iron… I WANTED that!  But I want it to last more than five minutes.

This Remington Wand gets it done.  I get those romantical loose waves/soft curls that LAST.  Be sure you get the larger barrel (especially if your hair is past your shoulders).  I tried the 1-1/2″ rod, and had to return it because it made my hair frizzy and the curls were way too curly-sue for me.

3. Dry Body Brush – $4-10

I watched a video on YouTube from a great blogger, Tati, and she mentioned how body brushing changed her skin.  I gave it a shot for only the last two weeks and I’ve seen a dramatic difference!  If you suffer from scaly skin, particuarly in the winter, you need to pick this up. I got mine at Walmart – but they have them at Target, Ulta, and more expensive places, too.

I followed Tati’s recommendation of starting from the bottom, and working up your body, repeating each section twice.  Don’t press hard.  When you get out of the shower, put your body lotion on (any will do and any will work better than it used to after brushing).  Feel how soft your skin is the next morning! Amazing.

It’s especially great if you self-tan in the winter. It prevents the weird patches from building up. I can’t believe I just started this.

4. Maybelline The Rocket Mascara (NOT waterproof) – $6

If you like CoverGirl Lash Blast (the fat orange tube), you’ll love this.  It’s Lash Blast’s stronger, blacker, lighter-weight sister.

Same type of brush, but this formula is darker and holds a curl better.  It’s also incredibly hard to remove, and I don’t use waterproof! Perfect for the long days this holiday season, and bitter cold/dry air.  This mascara holds up.  Just be patient when removing :)

5. Revlon Colorstay Kissable Balm Stain in Honey – $6-8

If you find that in the winter, lipstick or lip products are just too annoying to use because you’re always freezing, or your lips are just always too chapped… then go try this.

It’s the perfect solution for on-the-go application in the twist-up crayon-style medium.  The shade, Honey, is an amazing Your-Lips-But-Better color that ensures your lipcolor doesnt fade into the snowy abyss while you’re running around all winter!

Best of all… it’s a stain… but a balm – so if you forget to reapply, no worries – this shade has nicely pigmented your lips and moisturized, as well. So you’re good!

***Bonus:  Josie Maran Argan Oil – Light – $14

This one is a bit more of a splurge, but the smaller bottle is affordable and will last you a while if you only use a dime-sized amount daily.  I’ve been using this as a night time moisturizer over my Retin A.  If you love the idea of facial oils, or have tried some in the past and still feel they’re too heavy… pick this one up and give it a try.

I wouldn’t agree that it is ‘semi matte’ in finish, but it definitely doesn’t feel as heavy as the regular version did.  Although the regular version didn’t cause me a huge breakout, I certainly noticed my skin reacting a bit to the regular version. This does not bother me at all, yet still provides excellent moisture for these colder months.

*Oh… a humidifier works wonders, too.

What have your favorite budget beauty finds been lately? Comment below!

The good foods:

• grapes
• asparagus
• boneless, skinless white chicken
• no to low sugar (like 2 grams) protein shakes
• water with lemon
• rice cakes with real fruit jam (my favorite is Polaner Raspberry with Fiber)
• eggs or egg whites
• vitamin water

The bloatables:

• milk
• beans
• apples (most fruit with skin is no good)
• melon
• bananas
• broccoli (or other leafy greens)
• ice cream (see: milk lol)

Hope this helps you look like this come January 2nd:

My fiance laughs at me when I tell him how hard my workouts are at Pure Barre.  He called it, “lady aerobics,” “ballet shit,” and just generally, for girls.

Until my local studio hosted a “Bring on the Men” class.  Basically, an opportunity for the ladies who attend class to bring their significant others, brothers , husbands, male friends, etc. I brought my fiance.

Here is a Q & A with FH (future husband) on his experience with Pure Barre:

Me: What was your feeling when we parked outside of the studio?
FH:  I did not want to get out of the car because I didn’t see any other guys in sight.

Me:  Thoughts upon entering the studio?
FH:  ….I dunno….
Me: Can you be interesting?  Do you want me to lose readers?!
FH: [laughs]  I was dreading the class because I am not flexible and I was expecting a lot of stretching.

Me: Ok we start the warm up.  What are you thinking?
FH:  Is it almost over? No, that’s not what I was thinking…. I was trying to figure out how to do the moves… but before I could even figure out what was going on, we were doing something else. Did you marinate the hamburgers, btw?
Me: ….[glances] Yes, I marinated the hamburgers…..

Me: I say, “thigh work,” you thought….
FH:  I wanted to see if anyone else, well, the other guys, were struggling like me. Was I the only one?

Me: What does ‘tuck’ mean?
FH: Squeeze your stomach to your chest.
Me: How exactly do you squeeze your stomach to your chest?
FH:  ….silence….

^ FH, ‘tucking’ during thigh work.

Me:  Instructor says, “final 10.”  Now what?
FH:  “To tempo….” But really, I could barely keep my legs up.

Me:  Let’s talk about seat work.  Favorite move?
FH:  Was that when we were holding on to the barre?

^ FH and I doing some seat work

Me:  We finally got to ab work.
FH: I wanted to quit. Was anyone else struggling like me!?

Me: Final 2 minutes of seat work?
FH: I don’t remember that part because I blacked out.

Me:  Final thoughts on the workout?
FH:  It was hard and I will no longer think that your workout is just stretching in a tutu :)

^ All of the lovely ladies and men at Pure Barre Wilmington’s “Bring on the Men” on September 4th.

Have you tried Pure Barre? What does the man in your life think? A more personal review of the workout is coming soon…

Review:
PROS:  This was a foundation I never thought I’d like. First, Chanel pretty much equals millions of dollars, right?  Second, it has the word “Aqua” in it… which basically means watery/thin.  Why would I bother spending millions of dollars on something that’s going to be so sheer it’s barely there?  Here’s why:

Not only does this apply like ‘Aqua’ (read: water), it sets down to a natural finish (so it’s not oily/shiny and it’s not matte/flat).  It doesn’t feel heavy, since it’s water-based and honestly doesn’t feel like I’m wearing any makeup at all on my face! Which is crazy!  It also is long-wearing and resists oil.  I continuously wear this foundation through my one hour workouts and it stays put. Doesn’t smudge or get greasy. It also lasted through 12+ hours of airport travel.  It removes easily with makeup remover wipes, soap/water or my MAC Cleanse off oil… and never has broken me out (been using for 3 weeks now). I just love it!  It’s also great to travel with because the packaging is completely plastic… yet it looks so elegant on my dresser with the fancy Chanel logo :). That’s just an added bonus.  It’s a standard 1 oz bottle too, so don’t let the size of the bottle fool you… it looks tiny, but it’s the same as 99% of the other foundations on the market.

I love applying mine with the Real Techniques Buffing Brush (shown above; found online or at Ulta) or even just blended with my fingers. In the pics here, I used the Buffing Brush… it keeps the formula as sheer as possible and airbrushed-looking.

Note… it doesn’t provide FULL coverage… I’d say light/medium/buildable, so it’s very natural looking.  It covers exactly enough… I never would have thought…

CONS: Price.  At $45, it’s certainly not the most expensive foundation on the high-end market (particularly for Chanel), but it’s definitely not a $10 drugstore find.  However, it does what it says it does and MORE. So you get what you pay for here.

Also, shade selection is quite limited.  I’m wearing the darkest shade available, Beige 50… and I need to apply slightly more bronzer when I’ve spent a day in the sun if I use this foundation.

BUY HERE. Or go to your nearest Chanel counter to request a small, complimentary sample bottle first (that’s what I did). 

With that said, this product has been burning on my mind to tell you all about… especially if you’re one of those people who doesn’t like washing her hair every single day (no one should!), but hate the feel of dry shampoo (who actually likes that?)…

I got a sample of this little bugger with a Sephora purchase (naturally). I was quite skeptical. This product claims to:

• Be weightless
• Smoothes hair texture
• Corrects hair texture (what!)
• Detangles
• and best of all… makes your hairstyle last longer by MAGICALLY repelling dirt and humidity

Now… Jennifer Aniston is a sponsor of this Living Proof brand… so that made me feel better. My girl Jen wouldn’t lead me in the wrong direction with hair products, let’s be honest.  I mean, she also told me to drink Smart Water and I’m pretty sure that’s definitely why I am passing Corporate Finance right now (kidding, sort of).

When I first used the product, I was afraid that it would make my hair dry/brittle and have that ‘styling product’ feeling… like gel or mousse would. So I was very careful to use a small amount.  When I finished drying my hair, which definitely took less time than normal, my hair was so smooth and fluffy that it felt like I just left the salon and I didn’t need to use a flat iron OR curling iron to walk out the door. Interesting! I was ready to buy the full size, but needed to see if it would truly make my style last longer.

My hair stayed intact for more than the typical three days I go without washing it… and even though it did start to get a bit greasy at the root, the general style/smoothness and bounce that my hair had was still there! I bought the full size before I even ran out of the sample packet.

I even dared to use a larger amount of the product (think a grape-sized amount for my mid-back-length, thick hair).  Same results! And it smells very mild and delightful.

Moral of the story… go try this stuff out! You can get the full size (5 oz) for $20, smaller size (2 oz) for $12 at Sephora or Ulta…. but I’ve also found a mini-deluxe sample size (1 oz) on Amazon for as cheap as $9. It’s worth it!

[How I Use It With Other Products]

1. Apply PRIME style extender before anything else (after all, it is a primer!)
2. Apply it’s a 10 leave in treatment to the ends of my hair (i have very tangley hair)
3. Apply TreSemme heat protectant to the top of my hair/hairline
optional/as needed: after hair is dry, sometimes I’ll use a bit of Orofluido on the ends because it smells delightful, adds even more shine, and moisturizes.

So I eliminated 99% of gluten from my diet.  And my tummy has never felt better.  I used to constantly have stomach aches and thought it was nerves or anxiety… sometimes to the point that I would pass out or throw up in random public places – the city bus, on city sidewalks… I even passed out getting off the bus and ended up in the E.R. with four stitches in my face one time.  I attribute all those past ‘issues’ that were initially said to be due to anxiety to… my love for glutenous foods.  I am latin and italian.  Bread is pretty much synonymous with happiness.

However, that had to change.  I’ve adapted and found easy solutions to making this lifestyle change.  Yes, the gluten free breads aren’t as great and everything is so much more expensive… but when I think back to the horrible stomach pains and terrible bloating I’d get, it’s totally worth it.

But the biggest challenge is going out to eat.

DISCLAIMER:  The following is a rant that can be applied to anyone who deals with food allergies – whether they be dairy, nut, shellfish, fruit, etc.  I feel your pain.

I’m getting to the point that I don’t ever want to go out to eat in public.  Here’s why.

In my B.G.F. (before gluten free) life, going out to eat was a treat! It’s an opportunity to order something yummy, probably not that healthy for you, and be served by people who generally like working with the public… or at least do their best to pretend so they can get a good tip…

In A.G.F life, it’s torture.  You no longer can get excited about trying new things on menus.  It’s a very deliberate plan always. I have to constantly research where we’re going out, what restaurants are nearby, make sure to pack protein bars or other portable snacks when we leave the house, and if there isn’t many obvious g-free options, determine which items on the menu can be altered without mass hysteria.

About a month ago, we went on a cruise to the Bahamas. Worst. Trip. Ever.  I honestly ate a hamburger and french fries at least once a day for 5 days straight.  Every breakfast was eggs and hashbrowns. And every dinner had to be sent back at least once… before I succumbed to the second burger/fries combo of the day.  I felt like a glutenous bastard by the end of the vacation… I needed a detox.  The salad bar was rarely open on the ship, and unfortunately, I made the mistake of not speaking up and asking for gluten free options at dinnertime.  See, I’m still sort of new at this lifestyle, and I try to just make things work for the most part.  But when you’re out at sea and no where near a grocery store… fruits and veggies are not the most accessible.

Even at work… my coworkers do their best to accomodate my new needs when we order food in.  But nine times out of ten… they’re chomping on bagels or sandwiches or pizza… and they get me a fruit cup.  Yes… I know fruit is gluten free, but I am not a bird.  It sucks.  And I don’t begrudge them for eating fabulous things – I love those things too – but it’s very hard to feel satisfied when your appetite is no smaller, but your options are dramatically downsized.

A couple of weeks ago, I was in New Jersey for a wedding.  The next day, we went to brunch and I ordered an eggwhite omelet, but asked them to hold the toast.  The waitress politely asked if I had any specific allergies or if this was just a personal restriction… I replied that I couldn’t eat gluten.  She said, “Everyone’s doing that these days! You’re the third customer I’ve had doing gluten free… the kids behind you are also doing it.”

….

If you have a gluten allergy… or MY GOD I FEEL SO BAD IF YOU ACTUALLY HAVE CELIAC… those words literally make me want to crawl beyond my skin.  THIS IS NOT A FUN, FAD DIET, people.  This is not a diet to lose weight.  People who lose weight because they’re ‘gluten free’ aren’t losing weight because their food is without gluten, it’s because there are VERY LIMITED OPTIONS OF THINGS TO EAT SO YOU JUST DON’T EAT AS MUCH.

Do people honestly think that a gluten free diet is lower calorie?  Have you purchased a $7 box of gluten free cookies and looked at the 250 calories PER COOKIE and thought “wow what a healthy cookie. let me eat 5.” No. You didn’t. Because people without a gluten allergy don’t buy $7 boxes of cookies. You buy the $3 box of 100 calorie pack of oreos and eat 15 mini oreos and shut up.

It’s not a fad.

Tonight I really lost it.  We went out for fourth of July fireworks and dinner.  We decided to eat at a local pub.  I …stupidly… got excited about artichoke spinach dip because it said it was served with chips! Hopefully, I thought, “OMG maybe it’s corn chips and this is a gluten free appetizer I can share with my fiance!”  After all, it’s nice to go to dinner and not always have to order the same five things.

When the server came to take our order, I asked if the chips were corn chips or pita chips. “Pita chips…” and before I could even follow up with the question, “Can you substitute the pita chips for celery sticks,” he continued, “Nothing on our menu is gluten free.”

Really, sir.  So the salad with carrots, radishes and hard boiled egg isn’t gluten free? The raw oysters aren’t gluten free?  The rice and beans isn’t gluten free? The grilled chicken salad isn’t gluten free? None of your five burger options are gluten free without the bun?  Your jambalaya isn’t gluten free?

You’re a fucking asshole, sir.

That’s what I wanted to say to him. But instead, I said, “So your burgers are made with flour in them, too?”

He said, “Well, no but if you get it with a bun it’s not gluten free.”

…. STOP. REALLY!?  I DIDN’T KNOW BUNS HAD GLUTEN!!!! FUCK. I’M IN TROUBLE NOW.

“Obviously, sir. I will have the burger without the bun, please.”

At that point, I was absolutely livid.  Perhaps this stems from the fact that I have been a server before… for quite a few years in and after college.  I also am in grad school for my MBA and understand the importance of making the customer happy. I also have CONSIDERATION for people and generally don’t make them feel like they don’t belong somewhere that they’re willing to spend time and money. So, naturally, I start freaking out to my fiance. I couldn’t believe what horrible customer service the server provided us.  Not only was he a fucking liar, but he was rude about it, too.  Thank GOD I don’t actually have celiac disease and if God forbid there was some cross contamination, I’d be moderately fine.  But what sort of asshole just says to someone, “Nothing on our menu is gluten free.”  He should have just told me to leave the restaurant or tell me to go sit in the back of the bus. That’s honestly how I felt.

And my fiance was no help.  Instead of being on my team and defending me… he told me I should just let it go.

I am so sick of going out to dinner, thinking I can order something, and it’s a let down.  He has no idea how that constantly feels.  Why bother going out to dinner anymore?  Besides the safe bets for gluten free meals – sushi (with GF soy sauce), mexican and amazing places like Brixx pizzeria or PF Chang’s – it’s impossible.  Either people think that you are looking for attention, have an eating disorder, or are just being difficult.

For those of you who are related to someone with a gluten allergy… be on their side.  Defend them when someone is ignorant to the situation.  Sympathize with the constant limitations they are facing.  Relate to the challenge they face every day in meticulously selecting each and every meal for the next 12 hours they’re awake.  It is constantly on their minds.  Don’t tell them to “let it go.”  If we don’t speak up and let people understand the frustration they create by just “letting it go” and not educating people, then this type of situation will continue to happen.  Restaurants and servers will continue to NOT be flexible and perhaps even be rude to their customers.  After all, it doesn’t take much to offer a few gluten free options on a menu…. a few sticks of celery to use with a dip isn’t going to break the bank.

To add insult to injury… my fiance and I did not speak the rest of the meal.  It took an obscene amount of time to get us our food, and when the server gave us our meals, he never once asked us if we needed anything or if everything came out ok.  I asked for the tab, and on the $23 bill, he is VERY lucky I gave him $3.  I also commented, “When dealing with the public, it may benefit you to be a little more sensitive to individuals with medical allergies. Thanks to you, my night was ruined.”

And for those of you who work in public/food industry, if you don’t like working with people and are only doing this job for the money, get yourself on an anti anxiety medication so you can do your job the right way and not get so overwhelmed that you turn into an asshole and ruin the customer’s night.

Thanks.

Currently, my course-load includes a fun stint with Business Statistics. Now… if you’re wondering, “Oh she must be decent at math if she’s getting her MBA…” …I’ll forgive you for that silly thought.  My math skills are akin with a goldfish.  I’m assuming this much because gold fish don’t have brains, right? LOL.  JK …kinda.

So if you’re waiting for my posts on fabulous beauty and health things, they’re totes coming soon! I’m wrapping up the semester in a couple of weeks.  I’ve recently tried out the Olay Facial Hair Removal Duo and one of those monthly subscription boxes with healthy snacks, called Healthy Surprise!  Such fun things to discuss.

Until then… this is probably what is going through my head every day while staring at an Excel spreadsheet (hence the Subject line of this post… for those of you NON-statistics people…. that formula can save your life, should you ever enroll in classes)…